Naruto: Tenseigan Eye

"The Hokage's office promised that the matter would be resolved appropriately. Hokage-sama hopes you will honor your agreement, coordinate with the police department, and promptly integrate the village's ninjas into the police force," Mitokado Homura conveyed.

"By the way, the bodies of the elders and their guards were taken by Shinki's puppets. They're not in our hands."

After delivering the message, Homura left decisively.

"It's finally over," Uchiha Fugaku murmured, gazing up at the dark, cloud-filled sky.

The storm in his heart had settled—for now.

Several troublesome elders had been eliminated, but Uchiha's internal issues were far from over. A mountain of challenges awaited Fugaku's attention.

As for the bodies, Fugaku didn't care much. As long as they didn't fall into the hands of the village's senior officials, he wasn't concerned about Shinki taking them.

The bodies could be returned discreetly and buried in secret, but it would be inappropriate to return them openly.

Whether Shinki used the corpses for experiments or other purposes, Fugaku wasn't particularly interested.

Moments after Homura departed, a shadowy figure entered Fugaku's courtyard, silently leaving a scroll before vanishing into the night.

Fugaku opened the scroll and inspected its contents.

As expected, it contained the bodies of the elders and their guards. Nothing was missing—not even their Sharingan. Only one Sharingan had been removed.

It was then that Fugaku understood why Shinki's puppets had taken the bodies.

The missing Sharingan likely ended up in the hands of a senior village official, and the most probable culprit was Shimura Danzo. Shinki's puppets had retrieved the bodies to prevent them—and the Sharingan—from falling into the wrong hands.

Shinki wasn't interested in studying corpses or using the Sharingan for personal gain. This act had been purely to safeguard Uchiha's dignity.

Fugaku clenched the scroll, feeling a mixture of gratitude and unease.

A favor owed is a debt to be repaid. But how should Uchiha repay this?

Wealth? Influence? Loyalty? Or something else entirely?

Meanwhile, at Shimura Danzo's residence, the Hokage arrived unannounced.

"Danzo, you shouldn't have done this. It creates unnecessary misunderstandings," Hiruzen said, his tone firm.

Danzo scowled, gritting his teeth. "Sarutobi, you've grown too soft. Always bowing to that brat, Shinki! It's just a single Sharingan—it's hardly a precious commodity."

"But the agreement was clear: no spoils."

Hiruzen's voice rose, his frustration evident.

He had gone to great lengths to ensure this operation was handled cleanly, yet Danzo had still managed to stir trouble.

"Do you realize how many puppets Shinki has deployed throughout the village? If he wanted to, he could annihilate you and your entire clan in an instant. And don't forget—he holds the corpse of Hanzo the Salamander. Do you understand the implications of that?"

Danzo's face darkened, his silence betraying his unease.

A puppet created from Hanzo's corpse was a terrifying weapon—a mobile biochemical hazard capable of unleashing poison on an unimaginable scale.

The thought of such a puppet rampaging through the village was chilling.

Hiruzen pressed on. "If you provoke him again, the consequences won't just fall on you—they'll fall on all of us. He's not our enemy. Remember that."

"...Fine," Danzo muttered through gritted teeth. "What now? Do you plan to keep me under constant watch?"

"The blame has already been placed where it belongs," Hiruzen replied calmly. "You'll gain the temporary freedom I promised. I don't break my word."

He paused, his expression softening slightly. "The village is facing financial strains. The war has ended, but troubles linger. Relations with the Daimyo are deteriorating. I need you to be steady—no more unnecessary provocations."

Danzo sneered. "Steady? It's your cowardice that has emboldened the Daimyo. We're supposed to be equals, not subordinates. If the Daimyo wants to act out of line, we should remind him who truly holds power."

He leaned forward, his voice lowering. "Let me handle it. I'll ensure the Daimyo understands that without Konoha, he is nothing."

Danzo's disdain for the Daimyo was palpable.

The Daimyo was only significant because of Konoha's protection. Without it, he would be powerless—unable even to guarantee his own safety.

The Hokage hesitated. While he shared some of Danzo's frustration, the risks of putting pressure on the Daimyo were immense.

"Nothing must happen to the Daimyo," Hiruzen warned.

Danzo smirked. "Of course not. The Daimyo himself will remain untouched. But those around him? They're fair game. A few strategic moves will remind him of Konoha's importance—and the dangers of taking us for granted."

Killing the Daimyo outright was out of the question. But targeting his advisors or close associates? That was a different matter.

To Danzo, the Daimyo's increasing arrogance was a direct result of the Hokage's leniency. It was time to send a message.

After a moment of heavy silence, Hiruzen turned and began walking away.

"You can act as you see fit," he said over his shoulder. "But you must not implicate the Hokage's office or Konoha. Select your operatives carefully. This mission is yours alone."

Danzo's smirk widened.

"You'll have a satisfactory result," he promised.

Shimura Danzo's goal was clear.

The elimination of the Uchiha elders was only the first step. The Daimyo was next. As for Shinki? Danzo had learned his lesson—for now. But he wasn't one to give up easily.

Revenge could wait. For now, his focus was on reasserting Konoha's dominance and proving his worth once again.